8-Day Birdwatching Tour in Nepal with Pokhara and Chitwan

• Arrive at Kathmandu International Airport, where you will be warmly welcomed by our representative and transferred to your hotel for check-in. The rest of the day is free to explore this historic and vibrant city.

Meals: Welcome Dinner

• After breakfast at the hotel, drive to Godavari Botanical Garden. Here, we watch Spotted Forktail and various flycatchers.

• Continue onward and hike to Phulchowki at 2760 m, the highest of the mountains encircling the Kathmandu Valley and an ideal introduction to the birds of Nepal. Regularly recorded resident species include Besra, Black Eagle, Mountain Hawk-Eagle, Kalij Pheasant, Common Hill Partridge, Ashy Woodpigeon, Wedge-tailed Green Pigeon, Mountain Scops Owl, Collared Owlet, and Golden-throated Barbet, to name a few. Many species of migratory birds have also been known to visit the area. Phulchowki's forests are also very rich in flora and butterflies. Mammals found here include Leopard, Yellow-throated Marten, and Orange-bellied Squirrel.

• Return to Kathmandu for the night stay.

Meals: Breakfast

• In the morning, drive to Shivapuri Watershed and Wildlife Reserve, situated about 12 km north of Kathmandu. Some of the birds in the area are the Laughing Thrush, Crested Serpent Eagle, Pied Flycatchers, ruby-throats, and babblers. At Nagarjun, at 2105 m, pheasants, magpies, sunbirds, and ruby-throats are found.

• Return to Kathmandu in the evening.

Meals: Breakfast

• After breakfast, take a 25-minute scenic flight to Pokhara.

• Enjoy some refreshments at the hotel, and then explore the forest along the southern shore of the lake. Apart from the many birds found here, we will be rewarded with some of the best views of the Annapurna and Machhapuchhre mountains. Species regularly seen in this forest and along the lakeshore include Besra, Red-thighed Falconet, Pallid and Pied Harriers, Eurasian Griffon, Red-headed and Eurasian Black Vultures, and Kalij Pheasant, to name a few.

Meals: Breakfast

• Drive to Chitwan for about 4 hours.

• Check in to the hotel, after which there is time for a late afternoon nature walk or elephant safari. The Royal Chitwan National Park covers 932 sq. km and supports some 450 species of birds.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Take your pick from the most famous activities in Chitwan for bird lovers:

• Jungle Safari (Jeep/Elephant) - For jungle safari, the four-wheel jeep is built to go deep into the park, viewing some of the rare species of flora and fauna. Elephant safari is popular in the Sauraha jungle. Elephants are accessible in almost all resorts and lodges in Sauraha.

• Canoeing/Boating - Another popular activity in the park is the boat or canoe trip down the Rapti and Narayani Rivers. This is one of the most serene ways to explore the area as you float downstream with the river's flow.

• Jungle Walk - For more adventure and intimacy with nature, we can walk through open grasslands and dense forests, accompanied by a well-trained nature guide. This is a very enjoyable program that allows us to closely observe and learn about the flora and fauna of the park and explore the varied species of birds.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

• Proceed back to Kathmandu along the Trisuli River.

• In the evening, join a farewell party to review great photos and share experiences from the trip.

Meals: Breakfast, Farewell Dinner

• Inform your guide if you prefer to stay longer. You can consult them for short tours such as game drives at national parks, rafting, mountain biking, or tours to Tibet, India, or Bhutan.

Meals: Breakfast